As I said in an earlier review, I typically don’t review Microman, but I had to get this guy purely on its WTF quality.

What we have here is a Microman Micro-Zenmine Kero Charger.

It’s a pull-back transforming Micronaut frog truck.

“Zenmai” in Japan means “spring”, but in toy collecting terms it is a catch-all term for any toy that has a wind up motor. Micro-Zenmine is a sub line of Microman involving spring-loaded, pull back motors.

“Kero” means frog.

As part of the New Microman series from 1999, these were oddities for the line. They were meant more as companion vehicles and add-on parts to the larger magnetic figures.

Each figure has a vehicle and a robot mode. The robot mode has characteristics of a familiar animal with a robotic body.

In robot mode, Kero-changer's kind of crap looking. The sheer absurdity of the design is the only thing it’s got going for it. The head attaches by a peg, and the arms move at the elbows. The “hands” are just green guns that peg in below the elbows.

By moving a switch on the side, you can transfer the stored energy from the wind up wheels in car mode to the legs in robot mode. This allows the toy to awkwardly “walk” across the floor.

In vehicle mode it’s a bit cooler looking. I like that it has rubber wheels and the pull-back action is strong.

What really made these toys interesting was their compatibility with other figures in the Microman line. If you look at the back of the package you can see the variety of uses of the parts:

The head and arms can become a back weapon unit for a standard Microman figure

The ball on the top in vehicle mode acts as a base for the larger Magnemo Microman figures.

The whole unit can become a back unit for the larger Microman figures

In either mode, the toy is compatible with the Micro Station tracks. A standard Microman can “ride” on its back as it zooms along the track.

Granted, you have to have other Microman toys to take advantage of these features, but if you do then It looks like you can have a lot of fun with this.

Me, I just like that it’s a transforming frog robot.

As I said in an earlier review, I typically don’t review Microman, but I had to get this guy purely on its WTF quality.

What we have here is a Microman Micro-Zenmine Kero Charger.

It’s a pull-back transforming Micronaut frog truck.

“Zenmai” in Japan means “spring” but in toy collecting terms it is a catch-all term for any toy that has a wind up motor. Micro-Zenmine is a sub line of Microman involving spring-loaded, pull back motors.

“Kero” means frog.

As part of the New Microman series from 1999, these were oddities for the line. They were meant more as companion vehicles and add-on parts to the larger magnetic figures.

Each figure has a vehicle and a robot mode. The robot mode has characteristics of a familiar animal with a robotic body.

In robot mode he’s kind of crap looking. The sheer absurdity of the design is the only thing it’s got going for it. The head attaches by a peg, and the arms move at the elbows. The “hands” are just green guns that peg in below the elbows.

My moving a switch on the side, you can transfer the stored energy from the wind up wheels in car mode to the legs in robot mode. This allows the toy to awkwardly “walk” across the floor.

In vehicle mode it’s a bit cooler looking. I like that it has rubber wheels and the pull-back action is strong.

What really made these toys interesting was their compatibility with other figures in the Microman line.If you look at the back of the package you can see the variety of uses of the parts:

-The head and arms can become a back weapon unit for a standard Microman figure

-The ball on the top in vehicle mode acts as a base for the larger Magnemo Microman figures.

-The whole unit can become a back unit for the larger Microman figures

-In either mode, the toy is compatible with the Micro Station tracks. A standard Microman can “ride” on its back as it zooms along the track.

Granted, you have to have other Microman toys to take advantage of these features, but if you do then It looks like you can have a lot of fun with this.

Comments

I heavily collected the magne microman line back then. I love the designs and play factor when you have a large number of compatible figures and the base. But I don't recall ever seeing this guy! I would have purchased him if I had. Weird is good. :-)